"I cannot silence my deep concern over the situation that has emerged in recent days. At the same time, I appeal strongly for all to respect the city's status quo, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions," the pope said, in his weekly address.

The pope said he was "profoundly concerned" about recent developments regarding Jerusalem, which he called a "special vocation for peace" and a sacred place for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The pope, who spoke to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about the crisis on Tuesday, made his comments to a group of visiting Palestinians involved in the interfaith dialogue with the Vatican.

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned to cut diplomatic ties with Israel because of the United States recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, which is home to major Muslim, Christian and Jewish holy sites, in the 1967 Middle East war.

It quickly annexed it, declaring the whole of the city as its capital in a move which has not been recognised internationally.